ASUS launched the Zenfone 12 Ultra today with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and Meta's Llama 3 8B AI model running directly on the device. The €1,099 ($1,135) phone keeps the increasingly rare 3.5mm headphone jack while adding a host of AI features for photos, videos, and voice interactions.

The phone maintains the same 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED display and basic design as last year's model, though ASUS says it's now using 100% recycled aluminum for the frame and 22% recycled glass for the screen. The camera system sees an upgrade with a new 50MP Sony Lytia 700 main sensor paired with improved gimbal stabilization, alongside 13MP ultrawide and 32MP telephoto lenses.

ASUS is betting big on AI this generation, integrating Meta's latest Llama 3 8B language model for on-device features like document summarization and semantic photo search. The phone can also remove unwanted objects from photos, unblur images, and enhance video calls with AI-powered noise reduction - though many of these features mirror what's already available on competing flagships.

"The Zenfone 12 Ultra is the world's first phone with Meta's Llama 3 8B AI model running on-device"— ASUS Press Release

Core specs include up to 16GB of RAM, 512GB storage, and a 5,500mAh battery with 65W wired and 15W wireless charging. The phone ships with Android 15, though ASUS is still only promising two major OS updates - significantly less than competitors offering 4-7 years of support.

The Zenfone 12 Ultra launches today in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Europe in Sage Green, Ebony Black, and Sakura White color options. While it packs impressive hardware and unique AI features, the limited software support and increasing size may give potential buyers pause at its premium price point.